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Mrs Les Eames, Hypnotherapist, of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, complained that an article in Bedfordshire on Sunday on 29 December 1996 headlined "Call for probe into hypnotist" contained inaccuracies in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy), represented an unjustified invasion of her privacy in breach of Clause 4 (Privacy) and that information was obtained through misrepresentation in breach of Clause 7 (Misrepresentation) of the Code of Practice.

The piece reported that the complainant had had psychiatric treatment in the past and was only partially qualified. It stated that the chief executive of the Community Health Council (CHC) had said that the matter needed investigation.The complainant said she had finished her training, apart from the completion of a theoretical dissertation, and that the CHC had not called for "a probe" into her work. She also objected that the reporter had at first presented himself as a prospective client, and that the piece included confidential medical information about her. She said the photograph had been taken without her permission.

The newspaper stood by their description of the complainant as "partially qualified". They said that the CHC had expressed concerns. However, if the CHC were now satisfied with the complainant's position, they would consider for publication a letter from the complainant making this clear.

Decision: Upheld

Adjudication:

The Commission regretted that although this offer was taken up by the complainant at the beginning of April, some six months later, the newspaper had not published her letter in any form and they now believed it was inappropriate to do so.